Leonardo as Salvator Mundi: Star Power AND Solidity Can the DMA Have it All, For A Price?

Art in America reports that the Dallas Museum of art is considering the purchase of a painting newly attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci for an estimated $200 million, and actually has the artwork in Dallas. Christ as Salvator Mundi, a frontal figure of Jesus holding a crystal orb and passing a benediction was painted circa 1499, and has a lot of road wear since , making its extremely high price the subject of museological debate: for that much money, should the DMA acquire lesser masterpieces of perhaps greater artistic quality, or will the star power of the Leonardo name help make the DMA a destination museum? Does the DMA even want to sink that much into old master paintings, surely a losing game in the 21st century, or is this their chance to splurge on something unique, for which, because of the big name, it will be easy to find money?

BTW, the canny Kimbell paid $6 million for their Michelangelo in 2009.